English poet, born in Suffolk in 1766. Educated by his mother, a teacher, he moved to London at the age of 15 to become a cobbler. In 1790 he married Mary Church,and while still working as a shoemaker began to compose poetry about Suffolk. His first work, The Farmer's Boy, was illustrated by Thomas Bewick and became a huge success.

He later wrote Rural Tales, Good Tidings, Wild Flowers and The Banks of the Wye .

In 1812 he left London and moved to Shefford in Bedfordshire, where he lived until his death.